State Roundup, October 14, 2014

THE SECOND DEBATE: Republican Larry Hogan denounced Democrat Anthony Brown’s handling of Maryland’s health exchange Monday during their second televised debate, calling the website a “complete disaster.” Brown refused to give in, acknowledging that the launch went poorly but pointing to 400,000 Marylanders who obtained health coverage and statistics showing a drop in uncompensated care at Maryland hospitals, Michael Dresser and Erin Cox write in the Sun.

Mark Newgent of Red Maryland writes that it was only a matter of time before the usual suspects in covering the gubernatorial race for Maryland’s largest mainstream media outlets began putting their thumb on the scale for Lt. Gov. Anthony Brown. Case in point: “John “Watchdog” Wagner — an accomplice in the O’Malley administration’s abuse of the Public Information Act — trolled the Maryland Shooters message boards for a hit piece regarding the Maryland Firearms Safety Act.” (Mark Newgent has done research for Change Maryland and the Hogan campaign.)

A TIGHT RACE: Josh Kurtz of Center Maryland write that whatever you may think of these candidates for governor, it’s probably safe to say that the debates haven’t changed very many people’s minds, if anyone is paying attention. Whether they are or not, what we’re looking at here is a tight election. Republican Larry Hogan seems to have the issue on his side. Voters are most concerned about taxes and spending. Small wonder Democrat Anthony Brown is telling voters, in so many words, to read his lips. There will be no new taxes, he asserts – a promise he may find very difficult to deliver.

O’MALLEY’S CRIME FIGHT: The sharp reduction in violent crime that occurred on Martin O’Malley’s watch as mayor of Baltimore is a central theme of the speech he gives as he travels the country and lays the groundwork for a presidential campaign. But, reports John Fritze for the Sun, ongoing criticism from the city’s current mayor could focus attention on an aspect of O’Malley’s crime-fighting record he never mentions in New Hampshire or Iowa: A soaring arrest rate during his tenure in Baltimore that angered civil rights groups and locked the city into a yearslong legal dispute.

Read Next

Bill to hike minimum wage heads to Gov. Hogan’s desk as he promises ‘careful review’ of legislation he has said could devastate Maryland economy; senators moved forward on a $46.6 billion budget plan; Speaker Busch promises legislation to overhaul UMMS board of directors as UMMS leaders meet with top officials and promise changes to restore confidence in board; Mayor Pugh returns $100,000 to UMMS, calls inquiry into book deal a ‘witch hunt,’ refuses to show tax documents; Senate also approves bill setting new goals on state use of clean energy; despite its ban on fracking, Maryland has become a gateway to move fracked gas around the world; Green, Libertarian parties lose state recognition; and if state funds come through, construction of Laurel ‘super track’ could begin in fall.